Shock spread across Niall’s face as he inhaled deeply and stood as upright as he could. “McMillan Castle is no more yer home than mine, but ’tis no matter. I have been welcomed here with open arms. It shall be many a year until Griogair’s son is old enough to take over the duties here.”
“’Twould be a mistake for ye to get comfortable in yer position here. I will no more allow ye to care for this territory than I would allow ye to care for me own. Do ye think that I doona see what ye have done here?” Baodan released his grip on his brother and forced a smile at one of the castle maids who walked by. Watching until she was out of view, Baodan grabbed onto him once more.
“Just what is it that ye think I have done?”
A jest lay within Niall’s gaze, a dare for Baodan to tell him what he knew his brother didn’t know. It infuriated Baodan that Niall was right. He didn’t understand all that had happened but, as he stared down the evil within his brother’s eyes, he knew who to blame. “I doona know how, and I sure canna see why, but I believe Griogair’s death came by yer hand.”
“Me hand?” Niall’s angry voice dripped with sarcasm as he glared disdainfully back at Baodan. “I can swear to ye that I no laid a hand on him. I rather liked our dear cousin.”
“I believe that ye dinna lay a hand on him, but ’twas yer poison killed him, and it wasna the first time ye have used such a potion.”
“Oh? And who else do ye think I have killed? Have ye no spent yer entire life side by side with me? Doona ye think ye would have noticed if I was capable of murder?”
Baodan shook his head. “No, I remained too blind, too wrapped up in me own selfish pity to see right in front of me. I doona know who else ye have killed, but I do know who ye have tried to. Eoghanan was right to get Mother out of yer reach.”
“Ach, Baodan. What reason would I have for hurting her? ’Tis no secret that I despise her, but what would I have to gain from her death?
“I doona know, but everything ye do is for yer own gain, so I know there must be a reason.”
Baodan stilled at the smile that spread across his brother’s face. Niall finished his jest, enjoying the freedom of not having to hide his hatred.
“Ah, so Eoghanan has said nothing then? O’course he hasna. I can tell by the look on yer face that ye know nothing, and I believe that ye never shall. The bastard is too honorable, too caring to hurt ye in such a way.”
Baodan closed his eyes and breathed deeply, picturing the lass that awaited him at home. He could not kill his brother here, not until he rallied enough forces to push Niall away from Cameron Castle. Away from all that he held dear. “I willna ask ye what ye mean, for it would bring ye pleasure, and ye are deserving of none. Enjoy yer time as Laird, for it shan’t last long, brother.” Baodan dropped his hand from Niall’s arm, turning so that he could mount his horse.
“Will it no? I doona see how ye shall end it. I will tell ye this and ’tis the truth whether ye wish to hear it or no. Griogair was no the person I wished to harm.”
Baodan turned to look at Niall over his shoulder. “Do ye think me a fool, Niall? I know that he wasna the one ye aimed for. Ye told many that ye were headed to see Mother, dinna ye? And ’twas Mother’s food that ye believed ye’d poisoned.”
Niall laughed, and the sound of it chilled Baodan to his bones.
“Aye, but it seems that all has turned out for the best. With Griogair gone, I now have a home when ye have denied me one.”
“And what of Nairne, did ye kill her as well?”
“No, ’tis all that troubles me, for I doona know where she is. I expect she is dead somewhere on the castle grounds. Felled by the grief of watching her only son die before her eyes. But believe me, if she is no dead, I shall be the first to find her, and the last to see her alive.”
Baodan needed to leave here, to return home to find the truth that he sought and to wrap his arms around the woman he loved. Yet he had to find a way to protect his aunt. His heart filled with enough hate and disgust to last a lifetime, and he needed to wash it away before it consumed him. “Do ye think that Nairne’s words are all that can end ye? I doona need proof of what I know for men to join me against ye. Me word is worth much more than yer own.” Baodan turned but he heard Niall’s snickers as he walked away.
“And just what makes ye think that?”
Baodan kept his back to his brother as he spoke, moving away from the monster behind him. “While I have denied meself much, I havena spent me life treating others like they are mine to pawn as I wish. I have many a friend, while ye have none. There is more power that lies in that than ye know.”
For the first time in as long as Baodan could remember, his brother said nothing. Baodan rode away from Cameron Castle knowing he must rally his forces with all speed, or he wouldn’t be able to protect his aunt.
All he could hope was Niall had taken his bait and would come after him before finding Nairne. Surely Niall would be more concerned with stopping him than finding their helpless aunt.
Chapter 31
McMillan Castle